Where To Buy Ahnu Shoes

This version of the Ahnu Montara received a lower score in comfort this time around. Compared to some of the more comfort-oriented boots the Montara just did not provide the same level of comfort and padding. We found them to cause pain in the toe box, on both the outside of the foot and the inside. Now, this feedback must be taken with a grain of salt, as our lead tester has a wide foot, making narrow boots like these typically feel more uncomfortable. For women with narrower feet, the Montara III may be a great choice, as they have extra padding in the collar and heel to help prevent hot spots. The soft and supple leather upper also adds to the overall comfort of these shoes.

With many months to test the Ahnu Sugarpine boots, I made sure to take them on as many adventures as possible. We slid down dusty trails, hiked up steep snowy rocks, power-walked urban streets, and jogged (yes, jogged!) down forested switchbacks. In a given week I put about 10 miles on them. These boots went everywhere with me and, quite frankly, they will continue to do so.

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The Ahnu Sugarpine boots were breathable in the California summer sun and kept me warm while trekking snowy peaks. Never have I had a pair of shoes that were steadfast in their comfortable disposition for long durations of time, in multiple climates, over many terrains. They were comfortable even on the day I hiked eight miles in the wilderness followed by five miles of power-walking while completing errands in the city.

My feet are narrow with arches that prefer support, adorned with (embarrassingly) long toes. Finding shoes can be a challenge because sizing up to accommodate my toes often leaves too much space for my heels, and vice versa.

The Ahnu Coburn shoe also does an excellent job at protecting your feet from any sort of weather, as the upper parts of the shoe are comprised of waterproof full-grain genuine leather that rises two inches above your ankle. However, the leather is not just designed to keep moisture out, eVent waterproof, breathable hydrophobic membranes allow the shoes to breathe and wick moisture just as effectively as they prevent moisture from getting in.

In a former life, I was a runner. I took up hiking after a knee injury, but my feet have yet to catch on. They have rejected pair after pair of hiking shoes, and much to my husband's embarrassment, insist upon sporting running shoes as they carry me from peak to peak.

This, despite my all too intimate experience of the inadequacies of running shoes on the trail: injured toenails from lack of support, wet feet and blisters from an abundance of mesh and an absence of Gore-tex, and skinned knees due to woefully minimal traction. Dramatic? Well, let's just say it's been a rough transition for all involved.

And then along came the Anhu Montara. They are lightweight and comfortable, while also waterproof and supportive. My feet feel so at home that they think they're in running shoes! Features include eVent waterproofing, which has kept my feet dry even through rain and water crossings. These photos are from my first time out in my Montaras- a really wet spring morning after a rainstorm. As you can see, the shoes are soaked, but my feet remained dry.

The material is also breathable. Other waterproof shoes have felt like rain boots, keeping the water out, but causing my feet to sweat and blister due to lack of breathability. So far, no such issues with the Montara. That being said, it's so early in the season that I haven't had the opportunity to test the breathability on really hot days. Traction is great- the Vibram sole is a welcome departure from that of a running shoe, and I was glad to find this quality of support and traction in a lightweight hiker.

I've found the sizing to run small. I wear a 7.5 to 8, and bought a size 8. It fits well, but I certainly wouldn't want it any smaller. I should also note that I wear orthotics that run from the arch of the foot through the heel. I remove the insole when I wear my orthotics, which means that I have more space in the toe box than one would with a full length insole. If possible, these shoes would be best to try on in person before purchasing to be sure the fit is right.

Company: Ahnu Footwear

Ahnu Footwear began with Jacqueline Van Dine, Jim Van Dine and Jenny Fredericks and their ideas for a better shoe. They searched for products that blended performance and style but couldn't find it - so they made them! Hailing from the Bay area in California, this shoe company matches shoes with your lifestyle and asks you to "walk new ground".

The Ridgecrest was made for both long distance through-hiking and day hikes which appealed to me from the start. I had been looking for a lightweight yet waterproof shoe for longer distance travels and this shoe was built with all the harsh environmental elements in mind. The shoe touts the eVent waterproofing technology which keeps your feet dry while allowing a certain amount of breath-ability. I found this to be true to the eVent and Ahnu claims. Since I live in Arizona, I have never been overly concerned about keeping moisture out as much as I have been about allowing my feet to breathe. The shoes did just fine allowing the sweat moisture to leave the shoe keeping my feet dry on long hikes.

Another thing I noticed right away was the grip of the shoe. I took this shoe on a few quick trips to the Superstition Mountains which are famous for their rugged terrain. I really liked how the shoe handled loose rock and uneven surfaces. Ahnu used Spider Rubber outsole for traction and a shock dispersion plate in the forefoot area so I didn't have to feel every little rock under my foot. Although I typically prefer a Vibram sole, I couldn't tell any real difference in these shoes and was happy with the comfort in the bottoms of my feet.

I wasn't quite as happy with the rest of the shoe, however. When I laced these shoes up for the first time I noticed they felt very tight around the ankle yet loose through my mid foot and heel area. In fact, I couldn't put the lace through the last eyelet because of how high and tight the shoe felt. When I did that it relieved the tightness in the ankle but my heel began to slip slightly which is a big "no no" for me. Also, by not lacing through the eyelet it forced me to use the fabric eyelet as the final lace which will wear and break over time and use (which is why the final eyelet is metal).

The fitting of the shoe really did begin to bother me after only a few hikes. I was really disappointed because the shoe fit all the other criteria I was looking for and just standing in them they felt comfortable. I don't know if it is just the style of shoe but I've never had this much of a problem fitting a pair of shoes to my normal 10 1/2 sized foot.

Lastly, although the shoes are lightweight waterproof and breathable, they are a little clunky for a hiking shoe. I guess that is the trade off for waterproofing a shoe and not a boot.

Overall, there were a lot of features I liked about the shoe and delivered as expected. I thought the best part of the shoe was its ability to keep out moisture while allowing sweat to leave the shoe. The moisture wicking liner is really a great feature on this shoe. I also liked the sole and how stiff and rigid it was. That is a huge bonus for me. However, I just couldn't get over how awkward the shoes fit even after several trips attempting to break them into my foot. I really disliked how they felt around the ankle and for that reason I probably would suggest to use caution when purchasing. I don't want to dissuade others from purchasing this shoe because in reality it does exactly what it promises to do but I would suggest trying them on before making a decision.

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